[OP]
Contributor
Hi, everybody. Here's a video I just made that explains how I lost part of a finger on my jointer what I'm doing to prevent similar accidents from happening in the future. I hope it can help somebody else.
https://youtu.be/xGbyT11sNnY
Stay safe out there!
Jason White
Contributor
Ouch.
Looks like a good recovery though. Stay vigilante
[OP]
Contributor
Yes, indeed. I got very lucky. Still quite a bit of healing left to do.
Originally Posted by George Yetka
Contributor
My dad was an industrial arts/woodshop teacher for many years and described almost the EXACT same injury to one of his students. Glad it wasn't worse and best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Erik
Ex-SCM and Felder rep
Contributor
Thanks for sharing. I especially appreciate your to-the-point presentation and focus on explaining what (you think) happened and how to prevent it from ever happening again. Stories about shop injuries sometimes focus on gruesome pictures and (understandably) the emotional toll. I don't find that helpful as it just leaves me shaken and not wanting to spend time in the shop rather than teaching a valuable lesson or two.
Dragging right-hand fingers across the cutter head while edge jointing seems like an easy mistake to make. The position of that hand is not a natural thing to be aware of, the guard doesn't help, and the injury happens at the end of the cut right when you may think you're in the clear.
[OP]
Contributor
Thanks, Erik!
Contributor
Jason:
Thanks for sharing and taking the time to produce the video. It is so easy to "drop our guard" when working with familiar machines - your efforts at raising awareness will help viewers to remain focused on the task and, hopefully, avoid injuries.
I wish you well in the next few weeks towards full recovery.
Regards,
Jacques
Member
You are very fortunate for sure... glad you didn't lose fingers!
I know for myself when doing anything with power tools, I won't use them if I'm tired, crabby, overhungry or preoccupied. Especially overhungry when blood sugar takes a nosedive. Get interrupted? I shut off whatever I'm using at the time. (drill, circular, whatever) I read and watch videos like this so I learn what not to do. I guess the older I get, the more careful I get.
First project for me is gonna be a push stick.
Rich
Contributor
I have push shoes rather than push sticks. I feel like I have much better control over what I'm pushing versus the typical 'push sticks' and my body parts are still well clear of any cutters. I especially like the push shoe when face jointing. I can exert more forward pressure with light down pressure. My Jet JJP-12 uses a Euro style guard so I just leave a small gap - less than 1"- in the guard next to the fence. The shoe is made from 1/2" ply so plenty of room for the push shoe to pass between the guard and fence.
Member
This is the one that I was looking at making: https://jayscustomcreations.com/2014...ever-invented/ So it's not really a "stick".
Member
It only takes a second and could happen to any of us!
One thing a pro woodworker taught me for table saws, but also applies here... hook as many fingers over the fence as possible and just push with a thumb (far from the blade). That way if you slip, you're still anchored to something that isn't moving. I like his idea.
Contributor
Two people I know have lost fingers on the jointer. One I never understood how the other made sense. Ive said and others a few times that pork chops in some positions do nothing, that is how one friend had the accident and was distracted by some other difficult stuff that happened that day plus not proper support as well for what as going over the machine.
What I see looking is you stand very far back and then stretch out. Unless that is just for the camera I dont see that as comfortable. Id have to tape myself as I dont really know but im pretty sure id be more forward and a bit sideways to the fence.
Im no fan of gizmos. If you work in a shop and have them then end up working somewhere else and dont have gizmos then what? Hope you heal well and thanks for posting to help others.
Contributor
Jason, sorry to hear of your injury, glad to hear that you were fortunate and have healed well.
I just had a saw accident and was lucky also…..Regards, Rod
[OP]
Contributor
I'm standing where I am so you can see what I'm talking about on camera. I don't normally stand this way. I also agree that gizmos are no replacement for good safety practices. This just seems like a good solution for me; it's probably not the right one for everybody.
Last edited by Jason White; 08-12-2021 at 9:48 AM.
[OP]
Contributor
Here's another interesting doohickey I might try at some point. Popular Woodworking has a measured drawing for it on their website. Just do a search for "jointer featherboards". featherboards_5F00_51.jpg
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